Renal failure due to primary amyloidosis: a case report and literature review

CONTEXT: Primary amyloidosis, also known as AL amyloidosis, is commonly caused by clonal expansion of plasma cells in the bone marrow, thereby segregating light chains of clonal immunoglobulin that settle in tissues in the form of insoluble amyloid fibrils. The aim of this study was to report a case...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Mello, Ramon Andrade Bezerra de, Santos, Dania Sofia Neiva Marques, Freitas-Silva, Margarida Paula Rebelo Nunes, Andrade, Joaquim Aguiar
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:Brasil
Institución:Associação Paulista de Medicina
Repositorio:São Paulo medical journal (Online)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.diagnosticoetratamento.emnuvens.com.br:article/1578
Acceso en línea:https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/1578
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Amiloidose
Amilóide
Insuficiência renal
Síndrome nefrótica
Vermelho congo
Amyloidosis
Amyloid
Kidney failure
Nephrotic syndrome
Congo red
Descripción
Sumario:CONTEXT: Primary amyloidosis, also known as AL amyloidosis, is commonly caused by clonal expansion of plasma cells in the bone marrow, thereby segregating light chains of clonal immunoglobulin that settle in tissues in the form of insoluble amyloid fibrils. The aim of this study was to report a case of primary amyloidosis with renal failure, diagnosed in Hospital São João, Porto, Portugal, focusing on the diagnostic difficulties and presenting a literature review. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of the hospital with a condition of anasarca and nephrotic syndrome. After performing a renal biopsy that tested positive using Congo red and immunohistochemistry, lambda light chain amyloidosis was diagnosed. This evolved into terminal renal disease, which led to hemodialysis and several episodes of urinary and catheter infections. He was started on chemotherapy, consisting of bortezomib 0.7 mg/m2 and dexamethasone 40 mg in six cycles. This led to clinical improvement, stabilization of the illness and good tolerance of the treatment. CONCLUSION: Amyloidosis is a rare entity that is difficult to diagnose. This is because of the unspecific early clinical manifestations of the disease. The hypothesis of amyloidosis is only considered when specific organ failure occurs. This case consisted of primary amyloidosis with involvement of the kidneys as an initial presentation of the disease and its difficulties were shown, going from the clinical approach to the final diagnosis.